Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-09-08
A PECULIAR BueAMY CASE.
The Fifst Cndef the Congregational Act
Of July Is, 1856.


This morning, in the Police Court, Assistant
District Attorney Lavender Called the attention
OF Judge Shell to q charge OF bigamy against Ben
)amln Anderson colored He said that this case
was peculiar one, and II not the nrst one OF the
KIND here It was 1t least the first which has been
brought TO the attention OF the court. He said he
expected to prove that Benjamin Anderson the
DEFENDANT lived With Rena Howard before the
war, ana that while they were never legally mar
ried. their living together was egalized by the act
| OF July %, 1885, which reads as follows:
"All colored persons In the District who, prev1-
GUS 70 their actual emancipation had undertaken
and agreed TO occupy the relation to each other Of
as SUCH or in any way recognizing the relation as
existing on the 25th Of July, 1885, whether the
| rites OF marriage have been celebrated between
them OF not, are deemed husband and wife, and
are entitled to All the rights and privileges and
subject TO the duties and Obligations OF that rea-
tion' In IKE manner as II they had been duly mar
Richard Anderson, the coIored prison van driver,
testined that ne was about thlrty-nve years OF
age ne remembered before the war begun and
| the defendant, who is his fathers brother, as
sumed his fathers relations to his mother at his
tathers death, and his uncle became his step
Were you in the Army?" asked Mr.. Campbell
Darlington, who appeared for the defendant.
yes, SIR" answered the witness II walked
| through the Army when the soldiers were near
my home. ILaughter]
Have you applied for pension YETI" asked Mr..
mo. Sir" answered the witness, "but guess
. Alfred Coleman, colored, testified that the de-
remnants brother was married to Mrs. Anderson,
or Rena Howard and after bis death the defendant
lived Win her. Witness knew that while they
were living together one child was married The
ehiia was female, and now has four or i've
Henrietta Coleman, or Anderson (wtfe No. p,
testineQ tnat about year ago she was married to
the defendant by the Rev. Randolph Peyton.
Inc case was sent to the grand Jury; bonds,
A WEST WASHINGTON SUIT FOR DIvoRCR.-Mr.
T. +. Miller to-day, for Bette Crusor, died q bill
I0r divorce against Collin Crusor She sets
I0rth their marriage, February 26, 1885, by Rev.
Walter Brooks, her name being Davenport and
mat tney nave one child, and she charges that he
ao0cted TO the use OF drink, has treated her in
D narSh. cruol, and abusive manner, and he
assaulted her on July q last, and left her. since
which time she has received no tdings o; him ex-
cept oy letter dated New York, August 81, and
postmarked Georgetown, in which he says he has
ceased to care for her and has LEFT her. never to
return.
CHARGED WITH RoBBINa A ooL-HoUsE.-Henson
olson o few days ago, on charge or robbing the
dollhouse OF Columbus TLonoas, In East WASH
tngton, was held for the grand jury by Judge smell
to-day. He was committed, In default Of 81, 900
bail
A HUSBANDS SUIT FOR DIVORCE. John w.
Graham has by W. X. DuhaMel Eled bill for
divorce from Geneva u. Graham. They were mar
ried November II, 1873 by Rev. Dr. Butler, have